Ouch! If You Have Tooth Pain Call an Emergency Dentist

You never know when you will need an emergency dentist. A dental emergency, as with any health emergency can strike at any time and without warning. For some people, they will feel a moderate level of pain that all of a sudden escalates into unbearable tooth pain. For others, they need an emergency dentist after being in an accident. Regardless of when or why you need a dentist, we are available to help.

Two common reasons for needing an emergency dentist are injuring a tooth while playing sports or getting into an accident. According to the American Dental Association, the majority of adult tooth injuries are due to playing sports. Most adults don't have the time to play in an organized league so the likelihood of your tooth getting injured during a neighborhood game of basketball is actually fairly high. You can reduce your risk by keeping your teeth healthy in the first place or wearing a mouth guard while you play.

If your tooth was injured in a car accident or on the job, there typically isn't much you can do to prevent it. Scheduling regular dental exams and teeth cleanings will help your teeth to be healthy enough to withstand damage but there is no guarantee that your tooth won't become cracked, chipped, or even fall out during an accident. If this happens to you after business hours or on the weekend, you need to call a 24-hour dentist.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that the emergency room staff can treat tooth injuries. They can't and don't because they are trained in how to treat the rest of your body, but not in how to treat your teeth. This is why you need to visit a doctor of dentistry, not just a medical doctor. In fact, if you go to the ER, they will direct you to an emergency dentist instead.As a 24-hour dentist, you can call us at any time day or night.

We can provide the immediate relief you need when the pain becomes unbearable or restore your tooth after an accident. If your tooth has fallen out it is extremely important to see a dentist right away because we may be able to save it. Waiting until the morning is not an option when you are trying to do so. Instead, find your tooth, rinse it off and put it into a glass of milk. Once you get to our office, we will see if the tooth can be saved. If not, we will make other recommendations for replacing it such as installing a dental bridge or dental implants.

Likewise, if your tooth is in major pain, you can call our dentist office. We will examine your mouth and determine the reason you are experiencing pain before making treatment recommendations. By restoring your damaged tooth or treating an infection, we can correct your dental problems and help you to feel better in no time.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Oral Surgery

Visiting Our Childrens Dentistry Office Help Save Young Teeth

In our childrens dentistry office, we know that the foundation for a lifetime of healthy permanent teeth is laid during the first years of life. It is exceedingly important to instill good oral hygiene habits very early on. This routine should involve regular visits to a kid's dentist. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that every child should first visit their dentist within six months from the time they have their first tooth.
 
Unfortunately, the AAPD also says 50% of all children have never visited a dentist. Which is probably why an estimated 20 percent of all children in the US, under the age of 6, suffer from some level of early childhood caries. And there is good reason for this...  The enamel on the surface of primary teeth is not as densely mineralized as the enamel on the surface of permanent teeth, which makes them more susceptible to cavities.
 
As a childrens dentistry office, we are an important weapon in the fight against childhood caries.  We specialize in the oral health care of children from birth through adolescence. Over and above the usual four years of dental school, we have additional training, and therefore, have the qualifications and the know how to take care of children's teeth and gums through the various stages of childhood.
 
Saving Primary and Young Permanent Teeth

In our childrens dentistry office, we will offer you good advice on how to get your child started on an excellent oral hygiene routine, and what should be done to avoid dental caries. However, in the event a cavity has already developed, we do our best not to remove any teeth because 'baby' teeth are guides for the permanent teeth that will replace them.  Additionally, because the jaw has not fully developed, removing young permanent teeth can cause a malocclusion, or a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth, and is therefore also not the best option. However, a lot can be done to save primary teeth.
 
As your child's dentist we will first ensure that the decay is limited to the tooth itself, in which case filling the tooth is a relatively simple matter. However, if the cavity is a very deep one,  it is entirely possible that the bacteria has reached the pulp of the tooth, which is the softest part of the tooth that lies at its root, and supplies the tooth with blood and nutrients.  If left untreated, infected pulp could very well damage the permanent tooth lying below. Luckily, there are several treatment options based on the state of the tooth. These include a partial or complete removal of all the pulp tissue, or in the case where the decay has not yet infected the  pulp, we will seal off, or 'cap' the exposure and restore the tooth.
 
Prevention is Better Than Cure.

While there are a number of proven and safe methods of treating young teeth, dental caries is a very preventable problem. It is a great deal easier and far less expensive, to avoid dental disease by taking some very simple steps. Regular tooth brushing and flossing, restrictions on sugary foods and snacks, etc. can all help. However, regular visits to our childrens dentistry office are very important because, early oral examinations play a crucial part in the detection of the beginning stages of tooth decay & other oral health problems.

Dental Implants  >  Periodontics

Dental Veneers Fast Facts That You Should Know

Before you get dental veneers, you may be interested in learning more about this great dental service. When it comes to covering flaws, veneers are a wonderful product that creates amazing results. You will be impressed with how much better your teeth will look once you have your veneers placed. Veneers can cover many dental flaws with minimal effort. For a few more important and quick facts about them, continue reading.

• A veneer is a very thin, normally porcelain shell that is adhered to the fronts of your teeth to cover flaws. 
• Dental veneers can cover and improve shaping and contouring issues, discoloration or spotting, chips or gaps, misaligned or crooked teeth, awkward lengths, and a variety of other imperfections.
• Veneers are normally made of porcelain or composite materials depending on your specific needs. 
• Before your veneers are placed, we will gently etch the surface enamel of your teeth to create a better base for the adhesive. Once your enamel is prepared, we will adhere temporary veneers while your new ones are created in the lab.  Once ready,  the dental veneers will be bonded to your teeth with a long-lasting dental glue.
• Veneers normally last 15-20 years, sometimes longer. This length will range depending how well you care for your veneers and your surrounding gums and teeth. 
• They can be easily replaced if they become damaged or worn. 
• Dental veneers can be placed in as little as one dental visit or as many as three visits depending on what type of veneers you choose. 
• Before we can place your veneers, you will need to have a dental check up and allow us to fix any cavities and remove any dangerous infections. 
• The veneers placement is a minimally invasive and highly effective cosmetic solution. 
• You should not get veneers if your teeth are still developing or if you are suffering from ongoing periodontal disease. 
• Dental veneers are customized to fit only your teeth and improve the exact flaws you discuss with us. 
• Veneers are very natural looking and not easily scratched, stained, or damaged.
• The veneers procedure is not reversible unless you plan to have another cosmetic or restorative procedure completed to cover your vulnerable teeth due to the removal of enamel before veneers are placed. 
• Regular flossing and brushing can be done once your veneers are placed. No extra care outside of the avoidance of biting your fingernails or grinding your teeth is required. 
• Normally local anesthetic application is all the pain relief that is needed for a veneers placement. You will not experience discomfort during the procedure.
• The cost range of veneers varies depending on the location of treatment and severity of dental imperfections. 
• Dental veneers from our office should blend in perfectly with your other teeth. 

Now that you have learned some fast facts about how convenient, efficient, and affordable veneers are, we hope you consider visiting our office to learn more. The benefits of dental veneers are endless, and the results are attractive and natural looking. For all your dental veneer needs, we can help.

Dentist  >  Root Canal Dentist

Periodontics Can Help Your Gums Look and Feel Better

Periodontics is the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease, which is the inflammation and infection of the gums, ligaments and bones which support the teeth. As a general dentist, we treat both gums and teeth in order to ensure that you have the highest chance of retaining all or the majority of your natural teeth as you age. We work on all of the structures that are behind the scenes, ensuring that your mouth is healthy, that your teeth are perfect, and you have a bright and radiant smile. Besides working with the roots, gums, bone, and ligaments, we also specialize in dental implants in the event that you do experience tooth loss.  This is one of the most effective ways to replace teeth that have either fallen out or need to be replaced.

We also work with many different ailments that affect the mouth. Periodontal diseases range from simple inflammation of the gums to serious infections that can severely damage the gums and even cause tooth loss. Typically, gum disease starts with relatively minor symptoms.  The gums may be slightly sensitive, bleed while brushing, or appear to be red and inflamed. This stage is commonly referred to as gingivitis and is easily treated.  By simply performing a deep cleaning and removing plaque and tartar from under the gum line, we can help the gums to heal.  Typically, after this cleaning they will regain their natural appearance and won't cause further discomfort.  In our dentist office, we prefer to treat the disease at this stage because it prevents our patients from feeling further discomfort.

During regular dental exams, we will let you know if you may have gum disease.  If caught early enough, we will perform a deep cleaning, and that will be all that is needed.  However, if the disease has advanced, the treatment options become more intense.  With periodontics, gum disease can be treated when the gums have already started to recede.  This is a common symptom of the disease and fairly easy to recognize.  When you are brushing your teeth or smiling, pay attention to your gums and look to see if they appear to be shorter and your teeth appear to be longer.  This is the most common and obvious sign of gum recession.  As the gums continue to pull away from the tooth, pockets can be formed in the gum tissue.  This is particularly dangerous because bacteria can gather there and form acid which attacks the exposed tooth structure and roots.  When this form of gum disease is left untreated, it can lead to bone loss as the acid wears away the tooth structure.  This is why people that suffer from gum disease often experience tooth loss as they age.

We can treat the condition using various periodontics procedures.  In the case of receding gums, a gum graft may be necessary to seal up the pocket and secure the gums back around the tooth.  This procedure will prevent the bone loss that could otherwise occur.  Once done, patients typically report feeling far more comfortable while eating and drinking as well.

In periodontics, there are also procedures that are more cosmetic in nature. For example, a periodontist can reshape gums that are too large for the teeth. Our priority, however, is oral health and our gum treatments focus around health concerns.  We understand that without healthy gums, your teeth cannot remain healthy and strong as you age.  To that end, we recommend scheduling teeth cleanings for at least twice a year so that we can remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth and gums.  If we notice any signs of gum disease, we will recommend treating it right away before you experience any further discomfort or irritation.

Oral Surgery  >  Redwood City Dentist

Signs That You Should Visit a Root Canal Dentist

Many patients are unsure if they need to see a root canal dentist but are concerned about the health of their teeth or are experiencing tooth pain.  It is important to keep in mind that most dentists can perform a root canal but by visiting a specialist, your level of care can improve.  As with any medical procedure, when you see an expert there is less of a chance that there will be complications, the procedure is done faster, and discomfort is minimized.  As they say, practice makes perfect, and the same holds true for dentistry.

There are some signs you can watch for that will give you a good indication that it is time to schedule an appointment.

• Tooth pain that won't go away.  It is common to have tooth pain from time to time.  In fact, if you experience pain - brush and floss your teeth.  Sometimes food is stuck in there without you realizing it and simply flossing can make the pain go away after a few minutes.  If the pain is persistent and gets worse when you bite down, this is a sign that you need to call a root canal dentist. 
• Your tooth is darkening.  Teeth become stained but when they do it is typically a yellowish color.  If your tooth gets dark all of a sudden, that is a sign of a major infection and warrants an office visit. 
• Breath that smells really bad!  Everyone can experience bad breath after eating strong smelling cheese or garlic fries – that's normal.  If, however, your breath smells terrible after brushing and flossing and continues to smell bad – that is typically a sign of an infection or a lot of bacteria in your mouth.  When you visit the dentist, we can remove that bacteria and look for signs of infection in order to remove it.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.  If your tooth is infected, it will likely become more sensitive.  If you eat an ice cream and your tooth hurts once; that isn't a cause for concern.  Teeth, like any area of the body, can be sensitive from time to time.  If, however, this happens on a regular basis with hot, cold or both, you should schedule an appointment to have your teeth examined. 

A root canal dentist can identify any infected teeth and remove the infection. This is important because when a root canal is completed correctly, it makes it possible for your natural tooth to be saved instead of needing to be pulled.  In this scenario, the dental pulp (soft center of the tooth) is what becomes infected.  The dentist removes this area of the tooth and will often remove the roots as well.  Once your adult teeth are in place, the roots are no longer necessary.  Removing them won't impact the long-term functionality of your tooth but if they are infected, they must be removed in order to prevent the infection from spreading into your jaw.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a dental exam right away.

Dentist  >  Family Dentist

A Cosmetic Dentist Shares Alternatives to Braces

If you would like to improve your teeth, our cosmetic dentist office can provide you with quality alternatives to straightening treatments like braces. Our cosmetic dentistry practices involve the use of quality materials with skilled hands, and our experienced dentists can inform you on the best treatment options for your particular wants. To learn more about how a visit to our office can improve your smile dramatically, continue reading.

Dental/Porcelain Veneers

When patients visit our office with the hope of improving their teeth, we can offer them many improvement options. Some patients prefer to avoid straightening treatments like braces at all costs. If this is the case, dental veneers are an excellent alternative. Porcelain veneers, also called dental veneers, are wafer-thin, hard shells of porcelain permanently bonded to the fronts of teeth that are crooked, discolored, chipped, misaligned, or have spacing issues. Dental veneers are incredibly resilient to staining, comfortable in your mouth, and long-lasting. Since they are firmly attached to your teeth, they are very strong, grounded, and durable.

Veneers can be compared to crowns, except they cover only the visible portion of your tooth rather than the entire thing, which requires less dental drilling on your natural enamel. They improve your teeth's appearance by straightening, lengthening, or whitening your smile. A small amount of your tooth structure will be removed to allow the veneers to adhere closely and comfortably. They can provide you with the biggest improvement for a small amount of dental work and an affordable price.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is also be used to improve shaping and spacing issues that would otherwise be treated by braces. With bonding, a dentist will use a resin material to cover imperfections and fill in spaces. The bonding is hardened so it will remain in place and become durable. This is a conservative option if you are considering improving your dental imperfections. It can be completed in one quick appointment. Dental bonding is best when used on smaller-scale improvements.

Teeth Shaping/Contouring

Our teeth shaping and contouring procedures can be used to correct minor imperfections like one or two crowded or overlapping teeth. We use our sculpting tools to gently remove bits of enamel, then shape and polish the areas that have been worked on after we have sealed any vulnerable portions in order to protect them from decay.

Each of these cosmetic dentist procedures results in a beautifully improved smile. If you would like a complete smile makeover, we can also combine these treatments in order to completely transform your teeth. In addition to these procedures, we offer restorative treatments if you need improvements due to missing teeth or periodontal disease damages. Whatever your cosmetic dentistry needs are, we can help. Visit our office for more information about what we can do for your individual needs.

Veneers Dentist  >  Oral Surgery

Dental Implants Are a Permanent Alternative to Dentures

If you are wearing dentures, dental implants are an alternative solution that look and feel like natural teeth. While dentures are practical and provide patients with the appearance of a full set of teeth, they never feel quite natural. Implants, on the other hand, feel the same as the rest of your teeth so there is no way to tell which teeth are natural and which teeth are replacements.

Over seventy percent of adults over the age of sixty-five experience some form of tooth loss. Even young adults suffer from this age old problem, with around thirty percent of those over thirty five suffering from tooth loss. If this happens to you, it is important to decide how you want to replace the missing tooth. An experienced cosmetic dentist can help you to determine which solution will best fit with your lifestyle and the goals you have for your appearance.

Dental implants are ideal for people that have an active lifestyle and don't want their teeth to slow them down. Once the implant is installed, patients can eat all of their favorite foods, speak normally, and care for the implant as they do the rest of their teeth. This is a brush and go solution because as long as remember to practice good oral hygiene at home, along with visiting the dentist twice a year, you will never have to think about your replacement tooth again.

How the Process Works

In order to receive dental implants, you need to schedule a consultation with an experienced dentist. Our staff are experts at using this technology and able to determine if your gums and jawbone are in good enough health to schedule the procedure. If they are not, there are specific dental treatments that can get them ready. During your examination, a mold will be taken of your mouth so that the lab can create a synthetic tooth, or teeth, that is the right size and shape to blend in with your other natural teeth. If you want to have your teeth whitened now is an excellent time to do so because the synthetic tooth will be made to match your natural ones.

The first step in the procedure is to have a titanium post implanted under the surface of your gums. This piece will be secured to your jawbone and eventually the two will fuse together, creating an extremely durable synthetic root system. An abutment will be attached at the surface of your gums. Once the gums are healed the new tooth will be attached and put into position. This allows a cosmetic dentist to create a perfectly straight beautiful smile that looks and feels amazing. The entire process takes several months since your gums and bone need to heal after the implant procedure. During that time, you may want to wear temporary or immediate dentures so that no one will know that you don't have a full set of teeth. To learn more about the process or to schedule an examination, call today.

Teeth Whitening  >  Redwood City Dentist